Who's over thirty...

[Rooster_Ties]

Anybody besides me??

I'm 37 -- turn 38 next March.

[kenny weir]

I'm 50 and have only just started to begin commencing about wondering when I will decide to get thunking about what I'm gonna do with my life.

[Jazzmoose]

I'm 48 (49 next month) and I quit worrying about figuring out what I'm going to do with my life. And I'm serious, so don't feel alone.

[Alexander]

I'm in the same boat. I'm about to turn 36 next month and I'm still trying to figure things out. Teaching is certainly the closest thing to a life's work that I've encountered, but I don't know if I have it in me to teach for thirty years. There are too many things that I don't like about teaching (the discipline, grading papers, planning lessons, unhelpful or even malicous administrators). I do enjoy sharing knowledge and ideas with young people, but I don't know if that's enough to make up for all the minuses of the profession. At the moment, I'm still substitute teaching (my one real teaching gig fell through last winter) and while I like it better than having my own classroom (no grading, no planning, no day to day discipline), it doesn't pay enough and the work's not regular enough. I'm also tutoring, but I've only been able to get one or two days of work a week, so it doesn't amount to much.

What I'd really like to do is go back to school and earn my PhD so I can teach at the college level. I know that college professors have their own problems, but I have a feeling that teaching people who are PAYING to attend school is easier than teaching people who are compelled to go by law. The problem is that we're still paying for my Master's degree, so there's no way my wife is going to float me for another decade or so while I pursue another degree that may or may not result in gainful employment. Other things I'd love to do include:

Writing professionally - I've been writing for most of my life, and some of my stuff's not too bad. I've tried my hand at most forms and have been working on and off (mostly off) on a novel for the better part of a decade. It's probably the best thing I've written. The first chapter is posted on my MySpace page, if anyone is interested. Bear Dancing: Chapter One

Owning a record store - I know this is a very impractical dream, but I've always wanted to have my own record store. I had a taste of it when I managed the music department at B&N, but of course I got into trouble because I wanted to do things *my* way instead of the way they wanted it done. And I went ahead and did it my way, subsequently losing my job in the process. I know that between the internet and big box stores, indie record stores are becoming extinct. I'd lose my shirt and I couldn't get up the capital to start such a venture anyway.

Doing comedy (stand-up or improv) - I used to do both when I was in college and got pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. I came *this* close to landing a writing job on Saturday Night Live circa 1990, so I know I'm not the only person who thought so (they even used one of my skits...without crediting me or paying me). Recently, I was involved with a TV show that was pitched to MTV. It was a sketch comedy show, and MTV seemed really interested. Then they tested the pilot, and it flopped (I should state at this point that I had nothing to do with the pilot. I was supposed to sign on as a writer IF the show got picked up). As far as I know, the producer is trying to shop the pilot to other networks, and something may still come of it. I'm not holding my breath. I'm not a bad stand-up comic. I have great timing (I love the fact that I can "play" the audience with a pause or a look. It's a great feeling, having people laugh EXACTLY when you want them to laugh). I do good impressions (I do Bush, Clinton, Kermit the Frog, Cartman, Bugs Bunny, Ray Charles, Woody Allen...again, it's a great feeling to do an impression and have people recognize what you're trying to do). I come up with decent material. I have my faults too, btw. Some of my humor is TOO outrageous and goes too far. Early in Bush's first term (shortly after 9/11) I had an idea for a series of skits that were inspired by my then-toddler daughter. I thought it would be funny to portray Bush as a toddler; have him sitting on the floor watching Teletubbies on TV, stuff like that. In one skit, Cheney would be feeding him while Bush sits in a high chair:

CHENEY: Open wide Mr. President! Come on! Here comes the plane! Into the World Trade Center!

You can see where this would run into trouble.

So yeah, I know where you're coming from. If we could afford it, sometimes I think I'd be happiest being a house-husband. I do a fair portion of the cooking, almost all of the cleaning and all of the grocery shopping. I could get behind doing that full time...

[Rooster_Ties]

10 years as non-technical IT business analyst. The first 4-6 years (of 10) were pretty good, and mostly fulfilling (kinda, sorta), and often or at least occaionally enjoyable (I worked with good people, which helped a bunch -- but it was a big corporate environment, aack!!).

Then the last 4 years (of 10) were increasingly hell -- the IT world changed like nobody's business in the late, late 90's, especially around 2000/01/02 -- got way more competitive. Everything was suddenly about consultants, and doing way more with way less, and consultants, and competition, and consultants, and 70+ hour weeks, and not having a life, and consultants. Sure as hell don't want to get back in IT, cuz I don't have what it takes to compete in that area. Can't sell myself to save my soul, and I'm just not cut out for it. Not the least bit passionate about it either (and I sucked at the technical side of it (big time), and couldn't/wouldn't and really shouldn't move into management). Got laid off circa early 2003, and probably deserved to -- frankly.

Almost 2 years part-time work, doing this and that -- mostly nothing (unemployed), and got into the biggest funk I've even been in, in all my life.

Since then, I've been 1, going on 1.5 years working for a not-for-profit environmental agency (a pretty good place, all in all, with mostly good people) doing -- get this -- managing a community recycling center ( ). Took a nearly a 62% pay-cut from my previous IT career, but my stress levels have mostly gone down 80% too, and I'm down to a pretty normal work week (40 hours, though it's Tuesday through Saturday -- my weekends are Sunday and Monday).

But I'm aimless (to put it mildly), at best. Always have been, really. And can't imagine what I'll be doing 5 or 10 years from now. Dabbling in lots of things, focussing on nothing -- but then again, that's the story of my life.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

Edited November 17, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[Jazzmoose]

I can relate. I've bounced from one thing to another in my life. I thought for a long time that I'd wasted my life. But a family that loves me can't be too bad. In all honesty, if I tried to explain how I felt now, I'd probably sound like Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life, but I can hang. All my life I've lived with the "could have done more" tag until it was a second skin, but you know what? I am what I am, and the way I see it, my lack of focus is part of what makes me, and what's gotten me where I am today. If I had been more focused, and accomplished more, the people who are important to me today wouldn't even be part of my life now.

Edited November 16, 2006 by Jazzmoose

[chris olivarez]

The work aspect is not a problem. I found my calling sometime ago. Next up-the pursuit of happiness.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Like Rooster, I went from one job to another, really until I was 36. Then I found what I really wanted to do – political economics – but needed to get promoted again, which didn’t happen ‘til I was 46, but luckily the job I wanted had just been vacated and I got it. From then on, work was brill!

I had a real sense of achievement.

I punched one Secretary of State (in the shoulder, not to injure him);

swore at another fairly frequently;

made another laugh a lot; and

embarrassed the nastiest of them all in front of the Prime Minister.

These were the REAL achievements, but I also changed a few economic policies for the better (I think).

Now I'm retired, I've some real smartass remarks to look back on fondly.

MG

[king ubu]

Like Rooster, I went from one job to another, really until I was 36. Then I found what I really wanted to do – political economics – but needed to get promoted again, which didn’t happen ‘til I was 46, but luckily the job I wanted had just been vacated and I got it. From then on, work was brill!

I had a real sense of achievement.

I punched one Secretary of State (in the shoulder, not to injure him);

swore at another fairly frequently;

made another laugh a lot; and

embarrassed the nastiest of them all in front of the Prime Minister.

These were the REAL achievements, but I also changed a few economic policies for the better (I think).

Now I'm retired, I've some real smartass remarks to look back on fondly.

MG

and some smartass remarks to make us laugh here, too!

[Tom Storer]

I can't say I ever figured out what to do with my life, but I ended up doing it anyway. When I moved to France as a young man I had no saleable skills other than the fact that I could speak English and French and knew how to touch-type. I took a job as a typist for a translation agency, then moved up to proofreading translations, then went into business as a freelance translator, then took a technical writing course and found a job as a technical writer, then became an editor of technical writers. Meanwhile the better part of three decades went by and now I'm 48! How did it all happen so fast?

[Rooster_Ties]

Like Rooster, I went from one job to another, really until I was 36...

In my own defense, when I worked in IT -- I worked for slightly over ten years all for just one company -- which was the first full-time job I had after college. Started part time at first for one year (minimum wage, at that) -- worked my way up to full time, then got a huge promotion when I landed a much better job (in the same company) at the corporate offices in Kansas City (which is what brought me to KC). I moved up the ladder pretty steadily for almost 8 years. If I had stayed with it, and moved into the management track, I'd probably be making 6-figures (or fairly close to it) by now. (Heck, I was 70% of the way to 6-figures when I got laid off). Of course, I absolutely didn't and don't have any "management" DNA in me, not one drop -- and I had gotten about as far as a non-technical, non-management IT guy could get.

In short, I've never been job-hopper -- in fact, I can't imagine working any place for anything less than 5 years -- unless it was truly a temporary situation.

Edited November 16, 2006 by Rooster_Ties

[Man with the Golden Arm]

Yeah getting old and not having it all figured out is a stinker.

I've been talking about changing my major since I actually changed my major after nearly flunking out of organic chemistry classes in college. (where'd they get those tests anyhow?)

I really thought I'd have it all ironed out by now but left a good job with all the trimmings over 17 years ago to become a freelancer (they'd have probably laid me off by now tho). Much like Moose I guess my day to day shoe stringing attention excess disorder does make me who I am despite the medication. The constant shifting of gears in my day to day doings workwise keeps me fresh and burnt out at the same time. While I have found a niche for myself I am still not really satisfied with it so the happiness of being all settled in my life still is in question. Letting that attitude creep into the other side of things like family is something that I need to keep in check.

Getting of my ass and marketing myself properly is my next step but I'm a lazy sod so ... I'll stay behind my board with those nice speakers in front of me and draw!

edit (and learn to spell)

Edited November 16, 2006 by Man with the Golden Arm

[Guy Berger]

What I'd really like to do is go back to school and earn my PhD so I can teach at the college level.

A tip: unless you are going into the sciences or economics/finance, don't do it. Finding a job afterward is hard -- you probably won't be teaching anybody at the college level.

Guy

[Noj]

I know my calling, but I've been mired in an unrelated, boring job for 6 years. It's taken me this long to get a rhythm to my life and find a space to work on what I want to work on in between working. Plus, I still like to have fun doing the things I did as a kid--basketball, skateboarding, snowboarding...all of which require time, money, and effort.

[Swinger]

What can I say...I'm turning 31 in December and I'm still not sure what do to with my life. I love computers but I guess I'd be a great librarian as well .There is nothing wrong being a librarian in Finland (except really bad salary)

I'm studying at the moment and hopefully within the next 3-4 years after graduation I can configure servers,routers,unix-based servers etc.I have some friends (nerdish...) who can't understand how I can stand something like jazz

[clifford_thornton]

I can't say I ever figured out what to do with my life, but I ended up doing it anyway.

Right-o.

I'm 29 and on my second round of grad school. I think that whatever it is that I am into, and whoever it is that I think I am, will be more nuanced and solidified as I hit my 40s (hence, I look forward to that decade - specifically around 45). That's all that one can hope for, really, and that's good enough for me.

[Hot Ptah]

Sometimes when you know what you are doing with your life, it's not that great anyway. It can be an illusion that if you could find THE job or career for you, that happiness would flow to you. The uncertainty is relieved, to be replaced by a dismal, dreary certainty.

[Shawn]

36 Years old...and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up....

All I've been able to figure out is things that I DON'T want to do...

[Jazzmoose]

Sometimes when you know what you are doing with your life, it's not that great anyway. It can be an illusion that if you could find THE job or career for you, that happiness would flow to you. The uncertainty is relieved, to be replaced by a dismal, dreary certainty.

Damn straight. The only place to look for happiness is inside, not outside, if that makes sense...

[Randy Twizzle]

I think that whatever it is that I am into, and whoever it is that I think I am, will be more nuanced and solidified as I hit my 40s (hence, I look forward to that decade - specifically around 45)

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Like Rooster, I went from one job to another, really until I was 36...

In my own defense, when I worked in IT -- I worked for slightly over ten years all for just one company -- which was the first full-time job I had after college. Started part time at first for one year (minimum wage, at that) -- worked my way up to full time, then got a huge promotion when I landed a much better job (in the same company) at the corporate offices in Kansas City (which is what brought me to KC). I moved up the ladder pretty steadily for almost 8 years. If I had stayed with it, and moved into the management track, I'd probably be making 6-figures (or fairly close to it) by now. (Heck, I was 70% of the way to 6-figures when I got laid off). Of course, I absolutely didn't and don't have any "management" DNA in me, not one drop -- and I had gotten about as far as a non-technical, non-management IT guy could get.

In short, I've never been job-hopper -- in fact, I can't imagine working any place for anything less than 5 years -- unless it was truly a temporary situation.

Nor was I, once I'd turned 26; Having done 36 jobs in 10 years, I was ready to settle down. I joined the Civil Service then, which is a great way of doing lots of different jobs without changing your employer. I did 7 years in IT, in a finance environment. Good intellectual challenge but not what I wanted to do. Even so I stuck at it, until the project I was on was finished.

I don't have any management DNA in me, either. I got by, by making sure my staff were all nice people - interview for sense of humour rather than CV. So all I had to do was join in (or start) the sing-alongs

MG

Edited November 16, 2006 by The Magnificent Goldberg

[Scott Dolan]

36 here, too.

Gave up my career of Ophthalmic Technician 6 years ago when my son was born. Still haven't figured out what to do since. Currently working in building maintenance. Pay is sweet, benefits are out of this world, I get every holiday off that is known to man, and have no complaints at all.

I'd rather be doing something else, for sure, but what it is I don't know.

[tonym]

36 this year and still not a clue. My business went belly-up in July (more expensive repairs and depleted cash reserves) I've got two interviews next week for admin work and I'm seriously thinking about going back to college next autumn.

The one thing I've ever been any good at is the one thing I won't make a living from.

[Scott Dolan]

I've been kicking around going back to school.

But damn, I hated it enough the first time through.

[Alexander]

What I'd really like to do is go back to school and earn my PhD so I can teach at the college level.

A tip: unless you are going into the sciences or economics/finance, don't do it. Finding a job afterward is hard -- you probably won't be teaching anybody at the college level.

Guy

It's English, and I know. That's part of the reason I'm not doing it. The thing is that I pursued an MA in English a decade ago, and many of my former classmates are now PhDs. It makes me feel like a fuck up, since I know that I'm just as capable as these people. I dropped out for personal reasons (health reasons, really), and I reget it now. But I know that it's very hard to make a go of a career in academia, especially in a discipline like English. My wife is a college administrator, and she's always telling me about how the English Department at her school pretty much only employes adjuncts.